Image processing apparatus and information processing apparatus capable of displaying user-based option settings

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus, including a display, a memory, and a controller, to provide a plurality of functions is provided. The controller controls the display to display one of a first screen, through which one of the plurality of functions is selectable; a second screen, through which one of a plurality of options for the selected function is selectable; and a third screen, through which selection of the one of the plurality of options is indicated. When the controller reads shortcut information that indicates a first option for a selected one of the functions, and when the first option is permitted to the user, the third screen is displayed. When the first option is not permitted to the user, and if there is a second option permitted to the user, the second screen is displayed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2015-068991, filed on Mar. 30, 2015, the entire subject matter of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

An aspect of the present invention relates to an image processingapparatus and an information processing apparatus, more specifically, toa technic to display a setup screen for an image processing operation inan image or information processing apparatus that may provide the imageprocessing operation restrictively on user basis.

Related Art

An image processing apparatus capable of providing multiple functions orapplications to process image data is known. The image processingapparatus may have a list of users, in which the functions permitted orlimited to the users are indicated on the user basis, so that the imageprocessing operations may be restrictively provided to the users who login the image processing apparatus on the user basis.

For example, while the image processing apparatus may provide multiplefunctions, the image processing apparatus may limit a number of times toexecute image processing operations on the user basis. The imageprocessing apparatus may display screens for a current user to inputcommands to execute the image processing operation or to input setupinformation concerning options in the image processing operation. Whilea flow of screen transition to guide the user to start of the imageprocessing operation may take several steps, the image processingapparatus may provide a user interface, by which the flow of screentransition may be modified by the user.

That is, while an image processing apparatus in recent years is equippedwith multiple and versatile functions and application programs, a usermay be required to take a series of actions correctly each time to inputa command to execute a desired image processing operation, and the usermay find the series of actions redundant or bothersome. Therefore, atleast a part of the information required by the user to execute theapplication program may be saved in a memory device in the imageprocessing apparatus as so-called shortcut information, and the shortcutinformation may be used in order to execute the image processingoperation so that the user may skip at least a part of the series ofinput actions. The use of the shortcut information to execute an imageprocessing operation may be called as a shortcut function.

SUMMARY

Meanwhile, even when the image processing apparatus could use theshortcut information, if the function and/or the setups saved for theuser as the shortcut information are restricted, and the user hasreached the limit of availability of the function and/or the setups: inother words, when the function and/or the setups are no longer permittedto the user, the user may be restricted from using the image processingfunction. Therefore, in order to execute the image processing operation,the user may need to disable the shortcut function by, for example,selecting not to use the shortcut information or returning to an initialscreen when the shortcut information is read from the memory device. Inany way, disabling the shortcut function does not reduce the user'sactions, and the user may be required to take the series of inputactions to execute the image processing operation once again.

The present invention is advantageous in that a technic to reduce anumber of user's actions to execute a desired image processing operationin an image processing apparatus, which may provide the image processingoperation restrictively on the user basis, is provided.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an image processingapparatus capable of providing a plurality of functions is provided. Theimage processing apparatus includes a display; a memory having apermission information storing area configured to store permissioninformation, in which user-identifying information of a user andpermission to use each of a plurality of options related to one of theplurality of functions to the user are associated with each other, and ashortcut information storing area configured to store shortcutinformation, the shortcut information including information thatindicates one of the plurality of options; and a controller. Thecontroller is configured to receive input of the user-identifyinginformation of the user; on condition that the one of the plurality offunctions is selected through a first screen, through which any of theplurality of functions is selectable, while the first screen is beingdisplayed, controller the display to display a second screen, throughwhich the one of the plurality of options is selectable; on conditionthat a first option among the plurality of options is selected, controlthe display to display a third screen, through which the selection ofthe first option is indicated; read the shortcut information includinginformation that indicates the first option, determine permission forthe first option to the user with reference to the permissioninformation associated with the user who is identified by the receiveduser-identifying information, and if the first option is determined tobe not permitted to the user, further determine whether a second optionamong the plurality of options is permitted to the user; and if thefirst option is determined to be permitted to the user, control thedisplay to display the third screen; and if the first option isdetermined to be not permitted to the user and the second option isdetermined to be permitted to the user, control the display to displaythe second screen.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an imageprocessing apparatus capable of providing a plurality of functions isprovided. The image processing apparatus includes a display; a memoryhaving a permission information storing area configured to storepermission information, in which user-identifying information of a userand permission to use each of a plurality of options related to one ofthe plurality of functions to the user are associated with each other,and a shortcut information storing area configured to store shortcutinformation, the shortcut information including information thatindicates one of the plurality of options; and a controller. Thecontroller is configured to receive input of the user-identifyinginformation of the user; on condition that the one of the plurality offunctions is selected, and that a first option among the plurality ofoptions related to the selected one of the plurality of functions isselected, control the display to display a first setting screen, throughwhich the selection of the first option is indicated; read the shortcutinformation including information that indicates the first option;determine permission for the first option indicated in the shortcutinformation to the user with reference to the permission informationassociated with the user who is identified by the receiveduser-identifying information; and if the first option is determined tobe not permitted to the user, further determine whether a second optionamong the plurality of options is permitted to the user; if the firstoption is determined to be permitted to the user, control the display todisplay the first setting screen; and if the first option is determinedto be not permitted to the user and the second option is permitted tothe user, receive input by the user to select one of accept and refusethe second option; and if the input by the user to accept the secondoption is entered, control the display to display a second settingscreen, through which information indicating the selection of the secondoption is displayed.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, aninformation processing apparatus capable of providing a plurality offunctions is provided. The image processing apparatus includes adisplay; a network interface configured to connect the informationprocessing apparatus with an image processing apparatus forcommunication, the information processing apparatus being configured toprovide a plurality of functions; a memory having a shortcut informationstoring area configured to store shortcut information, the shortcutinformation including information that indicates one of a plurality ofoptions related to one of the plurality of functions provided by theimage processing apparatus; and a controller. The controller isconfigured to receive input of user-identifying information of a user;receive permission information, in which the user-identifyinginformation of the user and permission to use each of the plurality ofoptions related to the one of the plurality of functions to the user areassociated with each other from the image processing apparatus throughthe network interface; on condition that the one of the plurality offunctions is selected through a first screen, through which any of theplurality of functions is selectable, while the first screen is beingdisplayed, control the display to display a second screen, through whichthe one of the plurality of options is selectable; on condition that afirst option among the plurality of options is selected, control thedisplay to display a third screen, through which the selection of thefirst option is indicated; read the shortcut information includinginformation that indicates the first option, determine permission forthe first option to the user with reference to the permissioninformation associated with the user who is identified by the receiveduser-identifying information, and if the first option is determined tobe not permitted to the user, further determine whether a second optionamong the plurality of options is permitted to the user; and if thefirst option is determined to be permitted to the user, control thedisplay to display the third screen; and if the first option isdetermined to be not permitted to the user and the second option isdetermined to be permitted to the user, control the display to displaythe second screen.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, aninformation processing apparatus capable of providing a plurality offunctions is provided. The image processing apparatus includes adisplay; a network interface configured to connect the informationprocessing apparatus with an image processing apparatus forcommunication, the information processing apparatus being configured toprovide a plurality of functions; a memory having a shortcut informationstoring area configured to store shortcut information, the shortcutinformation including information that indicates one of the plurality offunctions to be executed by the image processing apparatus; and acontroller. The controller is configured to receive input ofuser-identifying information of a user; receive permission information,in which the user-identifying information of the user and permission foreach of the plurality of options related to the one of the plurality offunctions to the user are associated with each other, from the imageprocessing apparatus through the network interface; on condition thatthe one of the plurality of functions is selected, and that a firstoption among the plurality of options related to the selected one of theplurality of functions is selected, control the display to display afirst setting screen, through which the selection of the first option isindicated; read the shortcut information including information thatindicates a first option; determine permission for the first optionindicated in the shortcut information to the user with reference to thepermission information associated with the user who is identified by thereceived user-identifying information; and if the first option isdetermined to be not permitted to the user, further determine whether asecond option among the plurality of options is permitted to the user;if the first option is determined to be permitted to the user, controlthe display to display the first setting screen; and if the first optionis determined to be not permitted to the user and the second option ispermitted to the user, receive input by the user to select one of acceptand refuse the second option; and if the input by the user to accept thesecond option is entered, control the display to display a secondsetting screen, through which information indicating the selection ofthe second option is displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram to illustrate an electrical configuration of amultifunction peripheral device (MFP) according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user registration table stored in the MFP accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user-basis limitation table stored in the MFPaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate transition of screens to be displayed in anoperation panel to execute a scanning operation when no screen-link isset in the MFP according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A-5C2 illustrate transition of screens to be displayed in theoperation panel when a shortcut button is pressed in the MFP accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 6A-6B are illustrative views of screens, through which thescreen-link settings may be established, in the MFP according to theembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7A-7B2 illustrate transition of screens to be displayed in theoperation panel to execute the scanning operation when the screen-linksetting is established in the MFP according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart to illustrate a part of a flow offunction-selecting process to be executed in the MFP according to theembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart to illustrate another part of the flow of thefunction-selecting process to be executed in the MFP according to theembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart to illustrate a flow of a shortcut-selectingprocess to be executed in the MFP according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an exemplary configuration of a multifunction peripheraldevice (MFP) 100 being an image processing apparatus according to anembodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 100 includes a controller 30 having acentral processing unit (CPU) 31, a read-only memory (ROM) 32, arandom-access memory (RAM) 33, and a non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) 34. TheMFP 100 further includes a printer 10, a reader 20, an operation panel40, a network interface (IF) 37, a universal serial bus (USB) IF 38, anda telephone communication IF 39, which are controlled by the CPU 31. Thecontroller 30 may be a collection of hardware devices, including the CPU31, which may be used to control behaviors of the MFP 100 and thereforemay not necessarily be a single hardware device.

The ROM 32 stores various types of information including firmwareprograms, which are controlling programs to control the behaviors of theMFP 100, setup information, and initial configuration values. The RAM 33may be used as a work area, in which the controlling programs are run,and as a memory area, in which data is temporarily stored. The NVRAM 64may be used as a work area, in which various types of information to beused in the MFP 100 is stored.

The CPU 31 may process the information, stores computation results inthe RAM 33 and/or the NVRAM 34, and controls behaviors of parts andcomponents in the MFP 100 according to the controlling programs readfrom the ROM 32.

The printer 10 may print an image based on the image data on a sheet.The printer 10 may be, for example, an inkjet printer or anelectro-photographic printer as long as the printer 10 is capable ofprinting an image on the sheet. Further, the printer 10 may be amulticolor printer or a monochrome printer.

The reader 20 may read an image on an original document and output imagedata corresponding to the read image. The reader 20 may be, for example,a contact image scanner (CIS) or a charge-coupled device (CCD), as longas the reader 20 is capable of reading an image. Further, the reader 20may be a multicolor-readable scanner or a monochrome-readable scanner.

The network interface 37 includes a hardware device to connect the MFP100 with an external device 200 through a network, which may include,for example, a LAN cable, so that the MFP 100 may communicate with theexternal device 200. The external device 200 may include, for example, apersonal computer (PC), a cloud server, and a smartphone. The USBinterface 38 includes a hardware device to connect the MFP 100 with aperipheral device (not shown) through, for example, a USB cable so thatthe MFP 100 may communicate with the peripheral device. The peripheraldevice may include, for example, a flash memory and a medium card. Thetelephone communication interface 39 includes a hardware device toconnect the MFP 100 with a communication device, such as a facsimilemachine, through a telephone-line communication network so that the MFP100 may communicate with the communication device.

The operation panel 40 may include buttons, such as, for example, astart key, a stop key, and numerical keys, and a touch panel including adisplay screen. Through the touch panel and the buttons, informationconcerning the behaviors of the MFP 100 may be displayed to a user, andthe user's commands to the MFP 100 may be entered.

The MFP 100 may provide a plurality of functions including a copyingfunction, a facsimile communication function, and a scanning function.With the copying function, the reader 20 may be controlled to read animage from an original sheet, and the printer 10 may be controlled toprint the image on another sheet. With the facsimile communicationfunction, the reader 20 may be controlled to read an image from anoriginal sheet, and image data corresponding to the read image may betransmitted to another facsimile machine through thetelephone-communication interface 39. With the scanning function, thereader 20 may be controlled to read an image from an original sheet, andimage data corresponding to the read image may be stored in a designatedstorage device. The user of the MFP 100 may select one of the functionsand enter a command to activate the function through the operation panel40. Meanwhile, functions to be provided by the MFP 100 may notnecessarily be limited to these but may include, for example, a printingfunction, by which the printer 10 is controlled to print an imagecorresponding to image data obtained from an external device.

The MFP 100 may provide a usage-limiting function, by which usage of thefunctions provided by the MFP 100 may be permitted or restricted on theuser basis. The usage of the functions may further be permitted orrestricted on the basis of a function and/or a detailed setup optionbasis. The MFP 100 may identify and authorize users who use the MFP 100so that the authorized users may be allowed to use the limited functionsand/or limited setup options.

In order to permit or restrict the usage of the functions, the MFP 100has a user registration table 341 (see FIG. 2), which may be stored inthe NVRAM 34. The user registration table 341 may contain recordsincluding, for example, but not limited to, two (2) entries concerning auser ID and a password for each user. The entries in the records to becontained in the user registration table 341 may not necessarily limitedto user ID and password, as long as the records contain information toidentify the users. For example, the records may not necessarily includepasswords.

The MFP 100 further has a user-basis limitation table 342 (see FIG. 3)to store information, which may be referred to in order to determine thefunctions and setup options permitted to the users, on the user basis.The user-basis limitation table 342 may be stored in the NVRAM 34. Theuser-basis limitation table 342 may contain records including, forexample, but not limited to, information concerning the user ID andpermission information for each user. Therefore, the user-basislimitation table 342 includes an area for user IDs and an area forpermission information. The entries stored in the user ID area in theuser-basis limitation table 341 are associated with the user IDs storedin the user registration table 341. The entries stored in the permissioninformation area in the user-basis limitation table 341 indicatepermission for the copier function, the facsimile communicationfunction, the scanning function to the users, on the user basis.

More specifically, the permission information area may include an areafor copier settings. In the copier setting area, information concerninga maximum count of pages permitted to the user per single job, aquantity of sheets of multicolor copies permitted to the user per day,and a quantity of sheets of monochrome copies permitted to the user perday, may be stored on the user basis.

The counts of multicolor copies and monochrome copies permitted to auser per day may decline by one each time a multicolored copy or amonochrome copy of an image is printed on a sheet for the user and maybe initialized every 24 hours. The counts may be initialized by anadministrator. When the count indicates zero (0), the user is notpermitted to use the multicolor copier or monochrome copier function. Anentry “unlimited” indicates that no limit is set to the user. An entry“N/A” indicates the user is not permitted to use the function at all.Thus, the copying function provided by the MFP 100 may include a copyingoperation, which may require setup of itemized options includingmulticolor-copying and monochrome-copying. Meanwhile, the permissioninformation contain information that indicates the permission orrestriction of each setup option is stored on the user basis. In otherwords, permission or restriction of each setup option is saved in theuser-basis limitation table 342 as the permission information.

The permission information further includes a limitation settingconcerning the facsimile transmission function. In the permissioninformation for the facsimile transmission function, permission for thefacsimile transmission function to the users is indicated on the userbasis. An entry “P” indicates that the facsimile transmission functionis permitted to the user, while an entry “N/P” indicates that thefacsimile transmission function is not permitted to user at all. Thus,in the facsimile permission information, permission or restriction ofthe facsimile transmission function for each user is indicated. Thefacsimile transmission function may not provide any setup option.Therefore, if the facsimile transmission function is not permitted butrestricted to the user, there is no setup option concerning thefacsimile transmission for the user to select.

The permission information further includes limitation settingsconcerning the scanning function. When an image is scanned by the reader20, there may be several methods to store or handle the image data forthe scanned image. For example, the MFP 100 may store the image data ina designated file in a storage device, such as the RAM 33 or the NVRAM34; transfer the image data through the network interface 37 to theexternal device to be stored therein; store in the USB-enabled devicethrough the USB interface 38; or attach the image data to an e-mail andtransmit the e-mail to a designated address. These methods may be hereinreferred to as “file,” “transfer,” “store-in-USB,” and “e-mail”respectively, and permissions of these methods on the user basis may beindicated in the permission information. Thus, the scanning functionprovided by the MFP 100 may include a storing operation, which mayrequire setup of itemized options including file, transfer,store-in-USB, and e-mail. Meanwhile, the permission or restriction ofeach setup concerning the storing operation is saved in the user-basislimitation table 342 as the permission information.

The record structure in the user-basis limitation setting table 341 maynot necessarily be limited to those described above but may includedifferent items. Further, the setup options in the permissioninformation may not necessarily be limited to those described above butmay include different setup options.

[User Authorization by the MFP]

Next, behaviors of the MFP 100 for authorizing a user will be describedbelow. In the MFP 100, an administrator may register user informationwith the user registration table 341 in advance to the authorization.Further, the administrator may register the permission information foreach user with the user-basis limitation table 342 in advance to theauthorization.

In order to activate the MFP 100 to execute an image processingoperation, a user should first log in the MFP 100. The user may log inthe MFP 100 by entering his/her user ID and a password through a loginscreen displayed on the operation panel 40. In other words, the MFP 100should receive input of the user information through the operation panel40. For example, the MFP 100 may display a list of the user IDsregistered with the user registration table 341 on the operation panel40 so that the user may select one of the displayed user IDs, and afterthe selection of the user ID, the MFP 100 may prompt the user to enterhis/her password. For another example, the user may activate an IC-cardreader to read an IC card, in which the user ID is stored, to read theuser ID therefrom in order to receive the user ID.

After the entry of the user information, the MFP 100 may authorize theuser based on the user information. The MFP 100 may refer to the userregistration table 341 (see FIG. 2) to determine whether the userregistration table 341 includes a record containing the user ID and thepassword which are identical to the entered user ID and password. If therecord containing the user ID and the password identical to the entereduser ID and password is registered, the MFP 100 authorizes the user, andthe user successfully logs in. Meanwhile, if no record containing theidentical user ID and/or the identical password is registered with theuser registration table 341, the MFP 100 does not authorize the user,and the user may fail to log in.

If the user is permitted to log in, the MFP 100 stores the user ID ofthe permitted user in the RAM 33. Once the user is permitted to log in,the MFP 100 no more displays the log-in screen on the operation panel 40until the user logs out. Therefore, no other user can login with the MFP100. In other words, two or more users cannot login with the MFP 100simultaneously. While the single user logs in, the MFP 100 refers to theuser-basis limitation table 342 (see FIG. 3) and obtains the permissioninformation for the current user so that the image processing operationmay be provided to the current user within a scope of the permissioninformation.

In this regard, authorization of the user may be performed in a deviceother than the MFP 100. For example, the MFP 100 may be connected withan authorization server through a network, and the MFP 100 may transmitthe entered user information to the authorization server. Theauthorization server may inspect the transmitted user information andreturn the authorization result to the MFP 100, and the MFP 100receiving the authorization result may determine permission or denial ofthe user's login.

Further, the MFP 100 may obtain the permission information for thecurrent user from an external device. For example, the MFP 100 may beconnected with an external server that stores the user-basis limitationtable 342 and transmit the entered user ID to the external server, andthe external server may return the permission information correspondingto the transmitted user ID to the MFP 100.

[Screen Transition in the Operation Panel of the MFP]

Next, an example of screen transition in the touch-panel of theoperation panel 40 in the MFP 100 will be described with reference toFIGS. 4A-7B2. In the following example, screens to be displayed in theoperation panel 40 when the currently authorized user attempts to entera command to start the scanning operation are described.

After the successful login of the current user, the MFP 100 displays ahome screen in the operation panel 40. In the present embodiment, afunction-selectable screen 50 (see FIG. 4A), through which the user mayselect one of the functions permitted in the MFP 100, is used as thehome screen. Settings of the home screen may be changed through ascreen-link setting process, which will be described later. Thefunction-selectable screen 50 may include a function-listing area 51, inwhich the functions permitted in the MFP 100 are represented in icons; ashortcut button 53, by which the user may proceed to select a shortcut;a user ID area 54, in which the user name is displayed.

In the function-selectable screen 50, a provisionally selected iconrepresenting one of the functions in the MFP 100 is enclosed by adash-and-dot line. In other words, one of the functions is provisionallyselected initially and marked by the enclosing dash-and-dot square. Whenthe dash-and-dot enclosed icon representing the provisionally-selectedfunction is touched by the user, the MFP 100 recognizes that the userselected the function represented by the touched icon and accepts theselection. Meanwhile, if the user touches an icon which is not enclosedby the dash-and-dot square, the MFP 100 recognizes that the user nowprovisionally selected the touched icon and deletes the initialdash-and-dot square so that the initial provisional selection iscanceled.

For example, when the icon representing the scanning function isselected through the function-selectable screen 50, the MFP 100 displaysa storing method selectable screen 60 (see FIG. 4B), through which theuser may select a method to store the scanned image data. The storingmethod selectable screen 60 may include a method-listing area 61, inwhich options of storing methods are represented in icons; and afunction-selectable button 62, by which the display may return to thefunction-selectable screen 50. The method-listing area 61 may bescrolled horizontally by the user's touch so that more iconsrepresenting more storing options may be displayed.

In the storing method selectable screen 60, similarly to thefunction-selectable screen 50, a provisionally selected iconrepresenting one of the storing options may be enclosed by adash-and-dot square. When the dash-and-dot enclosed icon representingthe provisionally-selected storing method is touched by the user, theMFP 100 accepts the selected storing method.

For example, when the selection of “store-in-USB” setup option isentered through the storing method selectable screen 60, the MFP 100displays a store-in-USB screen 70 (see FIG. 4C), in which detailed setupoptions to store the image data in the USB device are presented. Thestore-in-USB screen 70 may include an item-listing area 71, in whichcurrent setup among the setup options for storing the image data in theUSB device are listed; a storing method selectable button 72, by whichthe display may return to the storing method selectable screen 60; anoption button 73, by which the user may proceed to a screen to set otheroptions or preferences than the storing methods; a shortcut storingbutton 74, by which the current setups may be saved in shortcutinformation; and a start button 75, by which a command to start ascanning operation may be entered.

When the start button 75 is touched by the user, the MFP 100 starts thescanning operation according to the scanner settings indicated in thescreens 50, 60, 70. When the shortcut storing button 74 is touched bythe user, the MFP 100 stores shortcut information, containing the setupscurrently displayed on the store-in-USB screen 70, in the NVRAM 34.Thus, the shortcut information may at least contain information thatindicates the store-in-USB setup option as the storing method. Moreover,the shortcut information may include information that indicates thesetups other than the storing method.

Meanwhile, when another one of the storing methods other than thestore-in-USB is selected by the user, the MFP 100 displays a screencorresponding to the selected storing method. When another one of thefunctions other than the scanning function is selected, the MFP 100displays a screen corresponding to the selected function.

Next, transition of screens in the operation panel 40 according theshortcut information stored in the NVRAM 34 will be described withreference to FIGS. 5A-5C2. When the shortcut button 53 displayed in thehome screen (see FIG. 5A) on the operation panel 40 is touched by theuser, the MFP 100 receives a command from the user to use the shortcutinformation.

As the MFP 100 receives the command to use the shortcut informationthrough the function-selectable screen 50, the MFP 100 displays ashortcut-selectable screen 80 (see FIG. 5B), through which the user isprompted to select a set of shortcut information among a plurality ofsets of shortcut information. The shortcut-selectable screen 80 mayinclude a shortcut-listing area 81, in which the sets of shortcutinformation are represented in icons; a function-selectable button 82,by which the display may return to the function-selectable screen 50;and a show-detail button 83, by which detailed contents in the selectedset of shortcut information may be displayed. In the shortcut-selectablescreen 80 shown in FIG. 5B, the sets of shortcut information arerepresented by the icons including numerical figures. Meanwhile, theicons may not necessarily represent the sets of shortcut information bythe numerical figures but may represent the shortcut information byother information. For example, if each set of the shortcut informationhas a name, the set of shortcut information may be represented by thename.

In the shortcut-selectable screen 80, similarly to thefunction-selectable screen 50, a provisionally selected iconrepresenting one of the sets of shortcut information may be enclosed bya dash-and-dot lined square. When the dash-and-dot enclosed iconrepresenting the provisionally-selected set of shortcut information istouched by the user, the MFP 100 accepts the selected set of shortcutinformation.

When the MFP 100 receives the selection of the set of shortcutinformation from the user, the MFP 100 obtains the selected set ofshortcut information from the NVRAM 34 to read in the RAM 33. The MFP100 determines, with reference to the permission information in theuser-basis limitation table 342, whether the function and the setupsindicated in the shortcut information are permitted to the current user.If the MFP 100 determines that the function and the setups indicated inthe selected set of shortcut information are permitted to the user, theMFP 100 displays a screen, which shows the function and the setupscontained in the selected set of shortcut information.

For example, a set of shortcut information may indicate the copierfunction as the function to use, and a magnification rate being 100%;single-face printing; multicolor copy; usage of a first tray; as thesetups. When the user selects this set of shortcut information, and theMFP 100 determines that these setups are permitted to the current user,the MFP 100 may display a copy setting screen 701 (see FIG. 5C1) showingthe permitted setups. The copy setting screen 701 may include an itemlisting area 711, in which current setups among the setup options forcopying an image are listed; a copy setting button 712, by which thedisplay may proceed to a screen to indicate or modify copier setupoptions; a shortcut storing button 714, by which the current setups maybe saved as a set of shortcut information; and a start button 715, bywhich a command to start a copying operation may be entered.

When the start button 715 is touched by the user, the MFP 100 starts thecopying operation according to the copier setups indicated and enabledthrough the screens 50, 80, 711. When the shortcut storing button 714 istouched by the user, the MFP 100 stores shortcut information, indicatingthe copier setups currently displayed on the copying setting screen 701,in the NVRAM 34. Thus, the shortcut information may at least containinformation that indicates the store-in-USB setup as the storing method.Moreover, the shortcut information may include other informationindicating the setups other than the storing method.

Meanwhile, when the function and/or the setups indicated in the selectedset of shortcut information are not permitted to the current user, theMFP 100 may determine whether the MFP 100 has an alternative functionthat may substitute the function not permitted to the user. If the MFP100 has one or more alternative functions, the MFP 100 may display ascreen, through which the user may select one of the alternativefunctions.

For example, if neither of the setup options of multicolor copier normonochrome copier is permitted to the current user, but if the facsimiletransmission function and the scanner function are permitted to theuser, the MFP 100 may determine that the facsimile transmission andscanner functions are permitted to the user as the alternativefunctions. Therefore, the MFP 100 may display an alternative-selectablescreen 720 (see FIG. 5C2), through which the user may select one of thealternative functions. The alternative-selectable screen 720 may includean alternative-listing area 721, in which options for the current userincluding the alternative functions are listed. The options may includenot selecting any alternative function. In other words, the user mayrefuse to use any of the alternative functions. When one of thealternative functions is selected without refusing, the user may proceedto a screen corresponding to the selected alternative function beingenabled. For example, through the alternative-selectable screen 720, ifthe scanner function is selected, the MFP 100 may display the storingmethod selectable screen 60 (see FIG. 4B). By using the scanner functionin place of the copier function, while the user may not be permitted toprint the read image on a sheet, the user may be permitted to output theimage data corresponding to the read image and store the image data in adesired storage device. Meanwhile, if the user selects to refuse thealternative functions, the MFP 100 may not change the display butmaintain the shortcut-selectable screen 80. Alternatively, thefunction-selectable screen 50 being the home screen may be displayed.

For another example, if the setup option of multicolor copier is notpermitted to the current use, but the setup option of monochrome copieris permitted to the user, the MFP 100 may determine that the setupoption of monochrome copier may be provided to the user as thealternative function. Therefore, the MFP 100 may display thealternative-selectable screen, through which the user's selection to usethe setup option of monochrome copier may be entered. When the user'sselection to use the setup option of monochrome copier is entered, theMFP 100 may display a screen, in which the setup option of multicolorcopier is replaced with the setup option of monochrome copier in theitem-listing area 711 in the copying setting screen 701 (see FIG. 5C1).

For another example, if the quantities of sheets permitted to the userfor multicolor copier and monochrome copier are one (1) and 100respectively, and the user attempts to make 10 sets of multicolorcopies, the user may not be allowed to make 10 sets of multicolorcopies. However, the MFP 100 may determine that the MFP 100 provideanother setup options that may substitute the setup option not permittedto the user. Therefore, the MFP 100 may display analternative-selectable screen, through which the user may select one ofthe alternative setups, so that the user may alternatively select themonochrome copier or may change the quantity of sets of copies to make.If, for example, the selection of monochrome copier is entered throughthe alternative-selectable screen, the MFP 100 may display a screen, inwhich the setup option of multicolor copier is replaced with the setupoption of monochrome copier in the item-listing area 711 in the copyingsetting screen 701 (see FIG. 5C1). For another example, if the userselects to change the quantity of sets of copies to make, and theselection is entered, the MFP 100 may display a screen, in which thequantity of sets of copies is changed.

Next, an example of screen transition in the touch-panel of operationpanel 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A-6B. The MFP 100may receive a command from the user to change screen-link settings whenthe user presses a predetermined button in the operation panel 40.

For example, the MFP 100 may receive the command to change thescreen-link settings when the function-selectable screen 50 (see FIG.6A) is displayed. In response to the command, the MFP 100 may display ascreen-link setup display 90 (see FIG. 6B), through which a linkage or adisplay sequence between two or more screens may be changed. Thescreen-link setup screen 90 may include a screen-listing area 91, inwhich the screens to be linked with another screens are listed; and ahome button 92, by which the display may return to the home screen. Theitems in the screen-listing area 91 may include a home screen, a copierscreen, and a scanner screen. The home screen refers to the initialscreen which may be displayed directly after the user successfully logsin the MFP 100. The copier screen and the scanner screen refer to thescreens, which may be displayed after entry of the selection from theuser to select the copier function and the scanner function respectivelythrough the function-selectable screen 50. For example, the scannerscreen may be linked to one of the storing methods through thescreen-setting screen 90, and when the user selects the scanningfunction through the function-selectable screen 50, a screen associatedwith the linked storing method may be displayed. The link setups for thescreens may be stored in the NVRAM 34. The information to be stored inthe NVRAM 34 as the screen-link settings should include information toidentify the screen which is to be displayed after thefunction-selectable screen 50 and may include, for example, informationto identify the indicated setup (e.g., store-in-USB), or information toidentify the screen (e.g., the store-in-USB screen 70).

For example, through the screen-link setup screen 90 (see FIG. 6B), thestore-in-USB screen 70 may be linked with the scanner screen. With thislink setup, when the selection of the scanning function is enteredthrough the function-selectable screen 50 (see FIG. 7A), the MFP 100determines whether the store-in-USB setup option corresponding to thestore-in-USB screen 70 is permitted to the current user. If thestore-in-USB setup is permitted to the current user, the MFP 100displays the store-in-USB screen 70 (see FIG. 7B1). In other words, thestore-in-USB setup has been indicated along with the scanning functionsince the screen-link was set through the screen-link setup screen 80.Therefore, at the time when the scanning function is selected throughthe function-selectable screen 50, the MFP 100 may skip the storingmethod selectable screen 60 (see FIG. 4B) and directly display thestore-in-USB screen 70 (FIG. 7B1). In this regard, the screen-linksetting may provide a shortcut, and the information concerning thescreen-link setting stored in the NVRAM 34 may be used as the shortcutinformation.

Meanwhile, if the store-in-USB setup option is not permitted to thecurrent user, the MFP 100 may display the storing method selectablescreen 60 (see FIG. 7B2). At this point, the user has selected thescanning function through the function-selectable screen 50; therefore,it is not necessary that the display returns to the function-selectablescreen 50, and the MFP 100 may proceed to display the storing methodselectable screen 60 (see FIG. 7B2), which is the screen correspondingto the selection of the scanning function through thefunction-selectable screen 50. Thus, the display does not return to thefunction-selectable screen 50 being the home screen but proceeds to thestoring method selectable screen 60, which is on an upper layer than thestore-in-USB screen 70 and on a lower layer than the function-selectablescreen 50 being the home screen within the flow of screen transitionshown in FIGS. 4A-4C.

In this regard, while the store-in-USB setup option among the pluralityof storing methods is not permitted to the user, the MFP 100 mayindicate the restriction for the store-in-USB setup option to the userthrough the storing method selectable screen 60. For example, as shownin FIG. 7B2, the icon representing the store-in-USB setup option may becrossed out by an X. For another example, the icon may be grayed out, orthe icon may not be displayed in the storing method selectable screen60. For another example, a message to inform the user that thestore-in-USB setup option is not permitted to the user may be displayedin the storing method selectable screen 60. With this explicit message,troubles, in which the user may misunderstand that the store-in-USBsetup option is permitted, may be reduced. Meanwhile, if there are morestoring options that are not permitted but restricted to the user,restriction or unavailability of those storing options may be explicitlydisplayed.

When a storing method other than the store-in-USB setup option isselected, the MFP 100 may display a screen corresponding to the selectedstoring method. Thereafter, when a command to start an operationcorresponding to the selected function through the screen, the MFP 100may switch the screen-link setting to the selected storing method.

[Function-Selecting Process in the MFP]

Next, a function-selecting process to carry out the screen transition inthe operation panel 40 of the MFP 100 will be described below withreference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The function-selecting process may beexecuted by the CPU 31 after the user successfully logs in the MFP 100and when a condition to display the function-selectable screen 50 issatisfied. As mentioned above, the function-selectable screen 50 is usedas the home screen.

As the function-selecting process starts, as shown in FIG. 8, in S101,the CPU 31 controls the operation panel 40 to display thefunction-selectable screen 50. In S101, the CPU 31 may refer to theuser-basis limitation table 342 and, if the CPU 31 finds there is afunction that is not permitted and restricted to the user, the CPU 31may indicate unavailability of the restricted function.

Following S101, in S111, the CPU 31 determines whether the user'sselection of a function is entered. If no selection of function isentered (S111: NO), in S112, the CPU 31 determines whether the shortcutbutton 53 is pressed. If the shortcut button 53 is not pressed (S112:NO), in S113, the CPU 31 determines whether a command to log out fromthe MFP 100 is entered. If no command to log out is entered (S113: NO),the CPU 31 returns to S111 and waits for the user's input. The user'sinput may include, for example, selection of a function from the setupoptions shown in the function-listing area 51, pressing the shortcutbutton 53, and the command to log out; however, detailed explanation ofthese is herein omitted.

In S111, when the user's selection of a function is entered (S111: YES),in S121, the CPU 31 determines whether the selected function is thescanning function. If the scanning function is not selected (S121: NO),in S122, the CPU 31 outputs a command to control the operation panel 40to display a screen corresponding to a function other than the scannerfunction. When the command is output, the CPU 31 starts executing aprocess to control the operation panel 40 to display the screencorresponding to the selected function. In other words, when the copierfunction or the facsimile transmission function is selected, in S122,the CPU 31 determines permission for the function to the user anddisplays the screen depending on the determination according to thescreen setting, if any, indicated through the screen-link setup screen90 (see FIG. 6B). In this regard, the screens may transit from one toanother similarly to the case, in which the scanning function isselected. However, description of the screen transition concerning theother functions than the scanner function is herein omitted. FollowingS122, the function-selectable screen 50 in the operation panel 40 isswitched to the screen corresponding to the selected function. Thefunction-selecting process ends thereat.

In S121, if the scanning function is selected (S121: YES), the CPU 31proceeds to S201 in FIG. 9. In S201, the CPU 31 determines whether anyscreen-link setting has been made with the scanning function. If noscreen-link setting has been made (S201: NO), in S231, the CPU 31outputs a command to control the operation panel 40 to display thestoring method selectable screen 60. When the command is output, the CPU31 starts executing a process to display the storing method selectablescreen 60 on the operation panel 40. Detailed description of the processto display the storing method selectable screen 60 on the operationpanel 40 is herein omitted.

In S201, if any screen-link setting has been made (S201: YES), in S202,the CPU 31 reads and obtains the screen-link setting from the NVRAM 34.Further, in S203, the CPU 31 refers to the user-basis limitation table342 and obtains the permission information of the current user. In thisregard, S202 and S203 may be conducted in an inverted order.

Thereafter, in S211, the CPU 31 determines whether the storing methodindicated in the screen-link settings is permitted to the current user.If the storing method is permitted to the current user (S211: YES), inS212, the CPU 31 outputs a command to control the operation panel 40 todisplay a screen, e.g., the store-in-USB screen 70, which presentsdetailed setups concerning the storing method indicated in thescreen-link setting. When the command is output, the CPU 31 startsexecuting a process to control the operation panel 40 to display thescreen. Detailed description of the process to display the screen whichpresents setup options concerning the indicated storing method on theoperation panel 40 is herein omitted.

If the indicated storing method is not permitted to the current user(S211: NO), in S221, the CPU 31 determines whether there is anotherstoring method other than the storing method indicated in thescreen-link setting is permitted to the user, i.e., whether there is analternative storing method is determined. If there is an alternativestoring method (S221: YES), in S231, the CPU 31 outputs a command tocontrol the operation panel 40 to display the storing method selectivescreen 60, which is on the upper layer than the screen indicated in thescreen-link settings and on the lower layer than the function-selectablescreen 50 being the home screen within the flow of screen transitionshown in FIGS. 4A-4C. In S231, the storing method selectable screen 60should display that the storing method indicated in the screen-linksetting is not permitted.

When a condition, wherein the storing method indicated in thescreen-link setting is not permitted to the current user (S211: NO) butthere is an alternative storing method permitted to the user (S221:YES), is satisfied, for example, the screen-link setting may be clearedwhen the storing method selectable screen 60 is displayed after S231:that is, the storing method selectable screen 60 may be displayedregardless of the screen-link setting indicated in the screen-link setupscreen. For another example, when the condition (S211: NO) and (S221:YES) is satisfied, and when the user selects an alternative storingmethod in response to the storing method selectable screen 60 beingdisplayed, the CPU 31 sets a screen corresponding to the selectedalternative storing method as the linked screen. For another example,when the user selects an alternative storing method, the CPU 31 maydisplay a screen in response to the selection; and when the user'scommand to execute the alternative storing method is entered, the CPU 31may set a screen corresponding to the selected alternative storingmethod as the linked screen.

In S221, if there is no alternative storing method (S221: NO), in S222,the CPU 31 alerts the user that the storing method corresponding to thelinked screen indicated in the screen-link setting is not permitted tothe user. The alert may include a text message, which may be displayedin the touch panel of the operation panel 40, and an audio message.

Following S222, the CPU 31 returns to FIG. 8, and in S111, the CPU 31waits for the user's input. While the CPU 31 waits for the user's input,the screen on the operation panel 40 may or may not be switched. Forexample, the screen-link setup screen 90 may be displayed so that theuser may change the screen-link setting through the screen-link setupscreen 90. Meanwhile, following S212 or S231, the CPU 31 controls theoperation panel 40 to switch the screens from the function-selectablescreen 50 to another screen. The function-selecting process endsthereat.

In S112, when the shortcut button 53 is pressed (S112: YES), in S131,the CPU 31 outputs a command to control the operation panel 40 todisplay the shortcut-selectable screen 80. Following the output of thecommand, the CPU 31 starts controlling the operation panel 40 to displaythe shortcut-selectable screen 80. Following S131, the display in theoperation panel 40 is switched from the function-selectable screen 50 tothe shortcut-selectable screen 80. The function-selecting process endsthereat. Meanwhile, when one of the shortcut icons is selected throughthe shortcut-selectable screen 50, the CPU 31 determines permission forthe function to the user and displays the screen depending on thedetermination.

Following S112, in S113, when a command for logout is entered (S113:YES), in S141, the CPU 31 is released from the user. In S142, the CPU 31outputs a command to control the operation panel 40 to display a loginscreen, through which information for a user to log in is displayed andthe user's command for log in may be entered. Following the output ofthe command, the CPU 31 starts controlling the operation panel 40 todisplay the login screen. Detailed description of a process to controlthe operation panel 40 to display the login screen on the operationpanel 40 is herein omitted. Following S142, the display in the operationpanel 40 is switched from the function-selectable screen 50 to the loginscreen. The function-selecting process ends thereat.

[Shortcut-Selecting Process in the MFP]

Next, a shortcut-selecting process to carry out the screen transition inthe operation panel 40 will be described below with reference to FIG.10. The shortcut-selecting process may be executed by the CPU 31 when acondition to display the shortcut-selectable screen 80 (see FIG. 5B) issatisfied, e.g., when the shortcut button 53 in the function-selectablescreen 50 is pressed.

As the shortcut-selecting process starts, in S301, the CPU 31 controlsthe operation panel 40 to display the shortcut-selectable screen 80. Inthis regard, the shortcut information to be displayed on theshortcut-selectable screen 80 does not include the information in thescreen-link setting.

Following S301, in S302, the CPU 31 determines whether selection of aset of shortcut information from the user is entered. If no selection isentered (S302: NO), in S303, the CPU 31 determines whether thefunction-selectable button 82 is pressed. If the function-selectablebutton 82 is not pressed (S303: NO), the CPU 31 returns to S302 andwaits for the user's input. The user's input may include, for example,selection of a set of shortcut information from the shortcut-listingarea 81, pressing the function-selectable button 82, and pressing theshow-detail button 83; however detailed explanation of these is hereinomitted.

After entry of the selection of the set of shortcut information (S302:YES), in S311, the CPU 31 obtains the selected set of shortcutinformation from the NVRAM 34 and reads in the RAM 33. Further, in S312,the CPU 31 refers to the user-basis limitation table 342 and obtains thepermission information of the current user. In this regard, S311 andS312 may be conducted in an inverted order.

Thereafter, in S313, the CPU 31 determines whether the function and thesetups indicated in the selected set of shortcut information arepermitted to the current user. If the function and the setups arepermitted to the current user (S313: YES), in S314, the CPU 31 outputs acommand to control the operation panel 40 to display a screen, whichshows the function and the setups indicated in the selected set ofshortcut information. Following S314, the display in the operation panel40 is switched from the shortcut-selectable screen 80 to the screenshowing the function and the setups indicated in the selected set ofshortcut information. The shortcut-selecting process ends thereat.

If the function and the setups indicated in the selected set of shortcutinformation are not permitted to the user (S313: NO), in S321, the CPU31 determines whether there is another function and/or setup option thatmay substitute the function not permitted to the current user. If thereis an alternative function and/or setup option (S321: YES), in S322, theMFP 100 controls the operation panel 40 to display thealternative-selectable screen 720, through which the user may select oneof the alternative functions.

Following S322, in S323, the CPU 31 determines whether an alternativefunction and/or setup option is entered. If the alternative functionand/or setup option is entered (S323: YES), that is, without selectingthe option of not selecting any alternative function, when one of thealternative functions is selected, in S324, the CPU 31 replaces theshortcut information entered in S302 and stored in the RAM 33 with thealternative function and setup entered in S323. In S325, the CPU 31outputs a command to control the operation panel 40 to display thereplacing function and the setup. Following S325, the display in theoperation panel 40 is switched from the shortcut-selectable screen 80 toa screen, which shows the setup stored as the replacing shortcutinformation. The shortcut-selecting process ends thereat.

Meanwhile, in S323, if the option of not selecting any alternativefunction and/or setup option is selected (S323: NO), or there is noalternative function and/or setup option (S323: NO), the CPU 31 alertsthe user that the function and/or setup option indicated in the selectedset of shortcut information is not permitted to the user. FollowingS331, the CPU 31 returns to S302 and waits for the user's input. Whilethe CPU 31 waits for the user's input, the screen on the operation panel40 may or may not be switched. For example, the CPU 31 may notnecessarily return to S302 but may proceed to S341 to output a commandto control the operation panel 40 to display the function-selectablescreen 50. In other words, the CPU 31 may control the operation panel 40to display the home screen, which was displayed before the operationpanel 40 displayed the shortcut-selectable screen 80.

Meanwhile, in S303, if the function-selectable button 82 is pressed(S303: YES), in S341, the CPU 31 outputs a command to control theoperation panel 40 to display the function-selectable screen 50. Whenthe command is output, the CPU 31 starts the function-selecting processdescribed earlier. Following S341, the display in the operation panel 40is switched from the shortcut-selectable screen 80 to thefunction-selectable screen 50. The shortcut-selecting process endsthereat.

According to the MFP 100 described above, for example, while thestore-in-USB setup option is restricted or not permitted to the user,and the scanning function is linked to the store-in-USB setup option inthe screen-link setting, when the scanning function is selected throughthe function-selectable screen 50, that is, when the shortcutinformation indicating the store-in-USB setup option is read, and if analternative storing method to substitute the store-in-USB setup optionmay be permitted to the user, the storing method selectable screen 60may be displayed. In this regard, the display does not return to thefunction-selectable screen 50, and the user is not required to designatethe scanning function once again through the function-selectable screen50 and disable the shortcut information. Therefore, compared to aconfiguration, in which the display returns to the function-selectablescreen 50 and the user is required to disable the shortcut informationand select the desired function once again, the actions to be taken bythe user may be reduced.

Thus, according to the MFP 100, when a function linked to a specificscreen and a function and/or setup saved as shortcut information are notpermitted to the user, the display does not return to the home screenbeing the initial screen but proceeds to an intermediate screen betweenthe home screen and the specific screen to provide the function.Therefore, a number of actions to input through the screens by the usermay be reduced, and the operation may be easier for the user.

Further, according to the MFP 100, when the setups indicated in theshortcut information are not permitted to the user, and if there is analternative setup option, the MFP 100 may accept the alternative setupas substitute. When the substitution is entered, a screen correspondingto the alternative setup may be displayed. Therefore, compared to aconfiguration, in which the display returns to a previous screen toselect the alternative setup, a number of actions to input through thescreens by the user may be reduced, and the operation may be easier forthe user.

Although an example of carrying out the disclosure have been described,those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerousvariations and permutations of the image processing apparatus and theinformation processing apparatus that fall within the spirit and scopeof the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. It is to beunderstood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or act described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

For example, the present disclosure may not necessarily be applied to anMFP but may be applied to various types of image and/or informationprocessing apparatus as long as the apparatus is equipped with functionsto process an image and to output image data of the processed image. Theimage and/or information processing apparatus may include, for example,a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, and a copier.

For another example, the user ID and the password may not necessarily berequired for the user identification and authorization to login the MFP100, but solely the user ID may be required so that the user may beidentified but not necessarily be authorized.

For another example, permissions for the functions and the setup optionsmay not necessarily be limited on the user basis. For example, aplurality of users as a group may be registered with the user-basislimitation table 342 so that the permissions of the functions and thesetup options may be set on the group basis.

For another example, the selections through the function-selectablescreen 50, the storing method selectable screen 60, and the shortcutselectable screen 80 may not necessarily be entered after theprovisional selection, e.g., by two touches to the icon, but may bedirectly selected by a single touch.

For another example, the command from the user to change the screen-linksettings may not necessarily be entered through the predetermined buttonin the operation panel 40 but may be entered, for example, by pressing abutton which is displayed in a home screen, such as thefunction-selectable screen 50.

For another example, when no screen-link setting is established, andwhen the scanning function is selected through the function-selectablescreen 50, the display may be switched from the function-selectablescreen 50 directly to the storing method selectable screen 60 orindirectly through other intermediate screens to the storing methodselectable screen 60. In other words, following the selection of thescanning function through the function-selectable screen 50,intermediate screens between the function-selectable screen 50 and thestoring method selectable screen 60 within the order of the screentransition may be displayed. Similarly, when the store-in-USB isselected through the storing method selectable screen 60, the displaymay be switched directly to the store-in-USB screen 70 or indirectlythrough intermediate screens to the store-in-USB screen 70. In otherwords, following the selection of store-in-USB setup, intermediatescreens between the storing method selectable screen 60 and the store-inUSB screen 70 within the order of the screen transition may bedisplayed.

For another example, the present disclosure may not necessarily beapplied to the method to control the screens to be displayed on theoperation panel 40 of the MFP 100 but may be applied to a method tocontrol screens to be displayed by a driver program installed in apersonal computer (PC). More specifically, the present disclosure may beapplied to a method to control screens to be displayed on a displaydevice of the PC, which may be connected with the MFP 100 and controlthe behaviors of the MFP 100.

When the present disclosure is applied to an information processingapparatus, such as a PC, each screen may be displayed on an displaydevice of the PC, and the shortcut information may be stored in a memorydevice in the PC. The information to identify the user may be theinformation concerning the current user who logged in the PC, and the PCmay keep the permission information of the current user in a memorydevice in the PC. Optionally, the information processing apparatus mayobtain the permission information of the current user from the MFP 100or from a printer server which administrates the MFP 100. Meanwhile, thefunction-selectable process and the shortcut-selectable process may beconducted by a driver program installed in the information processingapparatus.

The processes and steps described in the above embodiment may beimplemented by a single CPU, a plurality of CPUs, a hardware such as anASIC, and/or a combination of these. The processes and steps describedin the above embodiment may be implemented through a recording mediumthat stores a program and/or a method to perform the processes and thesteps.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus configured toprovide a plurality of functions, comprising: a display; a memorycomprising: a permission information storing area configured to storepermission information, in which user-identifying information of a userand permission to use each of a plurality of options related to one ofthe plurality of functions to the user are associated with each other,each of the plurality of options being applied to the related one of theplurality of functions when the related one of the plurality offunctions is activated; and a shortcut information storing areaconfigured to store shortcut information, the shortcut informationincluding information that indicates one of the plurality of options;and a controller configured to: receive input of the user-identifyinginformation of the user; determine permission for a first option to theuser with reference to the permission information associated with theuser who is identified by the received user-identifying information;display a first screen, through which any of the plurality of functionsis selectable; on condition that the one of the plurality of functionsis selected through the first screen while the first screen is beingdisplayed, control the display to display a second screen, through whichthe one of the plurality of options including an option permitted to theuser is selectable; and on condition that the first option among theplurality of options is selected through the second screen, control thedisplay to display a third screen, through which the selection of thefirst option is indicated, the third screen being configured to acceptinput by the user required to activate the function selected through thefirst screen with application of the one of the plurality of optionsselected through the second screen, wherein one of any of the pluralityof functions and a shortcut to the third screen is selectable throughthe first screen; wherein the controller is further configured to readthe shortcut information including information that indicates the firstoption wherein, if the first option is determined to be not permitted tothe user, the controller is configured to further determine whether asecond option among the plurality of options is permitted to the user;and wherein, if the first option is determined to be permitted to theuser, the controller is configured to control the display to display thethird screen; and if the first option is determined to be not permittedto the user and the second option is determined to be permitted to theuser, control the display to display the second screen.
 2. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller isconfigured to read the shortcut information including the informationthat indicates the first option while the first screen is beingdisplayed; and wherein, if the first option is determined to be notpermitted to the user and there is no second option permitted to theuser, the controller is configured to control the display to display thefirst screen in the display.
 3. The image processing apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to: receive ascreen-link setting, which indicates a screen to be displayed in thedisplay next to the first screen when the one of the plurality offunctions is selected through the first screen; store the shortcutinformation including the information that indicates the first option inthe shortcut information storing area when the third screen is indicatedas the screen to be displayed in the display next to the first screen inthe screen-link setting; and read the shortcut information includinginformation that indicates the first screen when the one of theplurality of functions is selected through the first screen.
 4. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memorycomprises an area to store count information, in which a number ofpermitted times to provide each of the plurality of functions and theplurality of options to the user are associated with theuser-identifying information; and wherein, if the number of permittedtimes to provide the one of the plurality of functions and the pluralityof options is zero, the controller determines that the one of theplurality of functions and the plurality of options associated with theuser-identifying information is not permitted to the user.
 5. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the secondscreen is displayed on condition that the first option is determined tobe not permitted and there is the second option determined to bepermitted to the user, the controller is configured to restrict thefirst option from being selected.
 6. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein, when the second screen is displayed onthe condition that the first option is determined to be not permittedand there is the second option determined to be permitted to the user,the controller is configured to indicate restriction of usage of thefirst option to the user by one of an icon indicating the restriction, agrayed-out indication, and not displaying.
 7. The image processingapparatus according to claim 5, wherein, when the second screen isdisplayed on the condition that the first option is determined to be notpermitted and there is the second option determined to be permitted tothe user, the controller is configured to control the display to displaya message indicating that usage of the first option is restricted to theuser.
 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe controller is configured to: control the display to display thefirst screen including a specific image associated with the shortcutinformation stored in the memory; and read the shortcut informationassociated with the specific image when the user's input through thespecific image in the first screen is entered.
 9. An informationprocessing apparatus, comprising: a display; a network interfaceconfigured to connect the information processing apparatus with an imageprocessing apparatus for communication, the information processingapparatus being configured to provide a plurality of functions; a memorycomprising a shortcut information storing area configured to storeshortcut information, the shortcut information including informationthat indicates one of a plurality of options related to one of theplurality of functions provided by the image processing apparatus; and acontroller configured to: receive input of user-identifying informationof a user; receive permission information, in which the user-identifyinginformation of the user and permission to use each of the plurality ofoptions related to the one of the plurality of functions to the user areassociated with each other from the image processing apparatus throughthe network interface, each of the plurality of options being applied tothe related one of the plurality of functions when the related one ofthe plurality of functions is activated; determine permission for afirst option to the user with reference to the permission informationassociated with the user who is identified by the receiveduser-identifying information; display a first screen, through which anyof the plurality of functions is selectable; on condition that the oneof the plurality of functions is selected through the first screen whilethe first screen is being displayed, control the display to display asecond screen, through which the one of the plurality of optionsincluding an option permitted to the user is selectable; and oncondition that the first option among the plurality of options isselected through the second screen, control the display to display athird screen, through which the selection of the first option isindicated, the third screen being configured to accept input by the userrequired to activate the function selected through the first screen withapplication of the one of the plurality of options selected through thesecond screen, wherein one of any of the plurality of functions and ashortcut to the third screen is selectable through the first screen;wherein the controller is further configured to read the shortcutinformation including information that indicates the first option;wherein, if the first option is determined to be not permitted to theuser, the controller is configured to further determine whether a secondoption among the plurality of options is permitted to the user; andwherein, if the first option is determined to be permitted to the user,the controller is configured control the display to display the thirdscreen; and if the first option is determined to be not permitted to theuser and the second option is determined to be permitted to the user,control the display to display the second screen.